Improvement in curtain-fixtures



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AMOS F. GERALD," OF FAIRFIELD, MAINE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CURTAIN-FIXTURES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 131,346, dated September 17, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AMOS F. GERALD, of Fairfield, in the county of Somerset and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Curtain-Fixture, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to that class of articles known as curtain-fixtures, and it consists in the construction of the right-hand bracket, which is provided upon its inner surface with two or more inclined cam-shaped grooves concentric to the journal which receives the center pin or axle attached to the roll; also in a projection upon the outer cap or flange situated between the center pin or axle and the circumference of the cap, said pin or projection engaging with the cam-shaped grooves, and the left-hand bracket having cupshaped cavity, whereby a simple and readilyadjustable fixture is obtained without the use of springs or weights.

In the drawingreferred to in this specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of the curtain roller and fixtures, partly in sect-ion, showing the relative position of the several parts. Fig. 2 is a view of the right-hand bracket, showing the spiral grooves; and Fig. 3 is an end view of the outer flange or cap of the pulley, showin g the pin or projection thereon.

Like letters refer to like parts in the several figures.

A is the roller, and D the left-hand bracket, which is a cup or cylinder, in which the end of the roller plays loosely, having an endwise movement, for reasons which will appear hereafter. a is a cap or washer fitting upon the end of the roller, and having a central opening through which the screw B passes. B is a screw, provided with a head or flange, Z1, and having a shoulder formed upon it which presses upon the cap or washer a. The two flanges or caps a. and b, and the upper portion of screw B, form the pulley or spool upon which the curtain-cord H is wound. The cap or flange b has upon its outer surface a center pin or axle, 0, and a projection, fiwhich enters the spiral incline or cam-groove c on the inner face of bracket 0. O is the right-hand bracket. This bracket has two or more spiral-inclined cam-shaped grooves, 0, arranged concentric to the journal, the deepest portion of one groove being just in rear of the commencement or shallow portion ofthe other groove, whereby the abutment d is formed. .9 is an arm projecting from the portion of the bracket 0 across the cord-spool to prevent the displacement of the cord.

The operation of the fixture will bebest understood by referring to Fig. 1. The curtain will be raised by simply drawing upon the cord, when the projection f upon cap b will pass up the inclined groove 0 and over the abutment d, sinking into the deepest part of the next groove, the abutment and pin together forming a clutch to prevent the unwinding of the curtain.

When it is desired to lower the curtain an endwise movement of the roller is caused by pulling the cord to the left, which clears the pin or projection f from the groove 0 and abutment 61, so that the roller revolves freely. The curtain can then be fixed at the desired height by a slight movement of the cord to the right, which causes the pin f to enter the grooves c c, and coming in contact with the shoulder d prevents the curtain-roller turning and unwinding the curtain.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The clutch-fastenin g, for operating the roller A, consisting of a cap or pulley provided with a center-pin, 0, and a pin or catch, f, between the center-pin and the circumference, in combination with the spiral grooves c c and shoulders d, upon the right-hand bracket, and the cup-shaped left-hand bracket, substantially as set forth.

AMOS F. GERALD. Witnesses:

' F. E. MCFA'DDEN,

D. W. ALLEN. 

